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304.5 TANF Manual 12/22 Page 7

D. Request for Assistance (TANF Opt-Out and Kinship Care) – An application must be made using the Relative Maintenance Verification Form. The application date will be considered the date the Family Services Specialist submits the completed and signed Relative Maintenance Verification Form to Benefit Programs. When processing TANF Opt-Out and Kinship Care Maintenance Support requests for assistance in the VaCMS, the worker must always select the program type as TANF. The Benefit Programs Specialist must determine eligibility within seven working days after the completed and signed Relative Maintenance Verification Form is received. TANF Opt-Out and Kinship Care Maintenance Support requests will display as TANF applications on the Pending Point and Time report in the VaCMS, and if not processed by the 30th calendar day following receipt of the application, the application will be considered overdue. When the 30th calendar day falls on a weekend or holiday, the worker must provide a decision on the application on the last working day prior to the 30th day.

The Family Services Specialists will be responsible for identifying the child(ren) that has been diverted from Foster Care for these categories. The Family Services Specialists will complete the Relative Maintenance Verification Form and provide the relative/caretaker with a copy to verify that the child(ren) is living in the relative/caretaker’s home to avoid placement into Foster Care. The Relative Maintenance Verification Form includes the caretaker(s), child(ren) and referring agency’s information, in addition to the date the child began living in the home of the caretaker. The form also records if the caretaker is requesting assistance for Relative Maintenance Support Payments (TANF Opt-Out or Kinship). If the caretaker chooses to apply for the Relative Maintenance Support Payment (TANF Opt- Out or Kinship), the Family Services Specialists will be responsible for delivering the completed Relative Maintenance Verification Form to Benefit Programs. The Relative Maintenance Verification Form will serve as an application for TANF Opt-Out and Kinship Care Maintenance Support requests and must be treated as such. The receiving locality is responsible for uploading the Relative Maintenance Verification Form into the Document Management Information System (DMIS).

E. Eligibility Requirements (TANF Opt-Out and Kinship Care) – The Relative Maintenance Support Payment Program for TANF Opt-Out and Kinship Care categories is a declaration program. The caretaker and the child(ren) for whom assistance is requested are not subject to the same eligibility requirements as TANF applicants/recipients. The only eligibility requirements that must be met are the completion of the Relative Maintenance Verification Form, Virginia residency, and the child(ren) must reside in the household of caretaker that is requesting assistance. The signature of the caretaker on the Relative Maintenance Verification Form will serve as verification that Virginia residency is met, and that the child(ren) reside in the home of the caretaker. The Family Services Specialist will be responsible for collecting the birth date and social security numbers of the caretaker, and child(ren) for whom assistance is requested. If the information is provided, the EW will verify the social security number prior to processing the application using SVES (State Verification and Exchange System) or SOLQ-I (if not entered into the VaCMS record and/or verified at registration). However, if a social security number is not provided on the Relative Maintenance Verification Form, the application must be processed and not denied. All remaining non-financial and financial criteria are not applicable when processing TANF Opt-Out and Kinship Care requests. An interview with the applicant is not required to process the application.

Note: Children placed with a relative in the Commonwealth of Virginia by another state are not eligible for the Relative Maintenance Support Payment.

Unlike TANF payments, Relative Maintenance Support Payments are not prorated based on the date of the TANF application. If a caretaker applies for Relative Maintenance Support Payments any date after the first of the month, and if all eligibility criteria are met, then the assistance unit will receive the entire payment per eligible child, for that month.

TANF Transmittal 76